Telephone apparatus.



E. A. COX.

TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1916.

1 215,002. Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

I 2 SHEETS'SHEET llvummlioz E. A. COX.

TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

APPLICATIQN FILED MALE-I916.

1,215,902. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- n earns ELDRIIDGE A. COX, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 CABL W. THATCHER,

ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN H. BOGART, AND ONE-FOURTH TO BURR F. WESTLAKE, ALL

OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 6, 1191?.

Application filed March 6, 1916. Serial No. 82,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE A. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dr yton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in telephone apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to provide for use in connection with a telephone, means whereby the latter may be connected with, or disconnected from, the central station without touching the receiver.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for holding the tele phone receiver, to which an amplifier is attached, whereby conversation may be carried on through the latter at a distance therefrom.

Through the conjunction of the above means, a stenographer may take dictation over the telephone, controlling by her foot the device which connects the telephone with the central station; or anyone else may, while talking through a telephone equipped with my device, use his hands for other purposes.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

The preferred form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front elevatioual view of my telephone apparatus mounted upon a desk. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device for holding the telephone receiver and the means connected therewith for controlling the receiver hook on the telephone standard. And Fig. 3 is a side view of the device for holding the telephone receiver.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

In a detailed description of the preferred form of embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the usual desk tele phone instrument which in this instance rests upon a desk 2. Also resting upon the desk 2, a short distance from the telephone instrument 1, is a standard 3 which is constructed as follows. nates a portable base standard is mounted, the latter terminating at its upper end in a bearing piece 5 to which a horizontally-disposed receiver-- carrying arm 6 is pivoted. The latter is formed at each end to receive and securely hold a telephone receiver 7, whereby the latter may be adjusted to a desired position by moving said arm about the bearing piece 0.

Pivoted to the upper front portion of the standard 3 is a lever arm 8, one end of which terminates in an armature 9 while the other end thereof terminates in a downwardly extending fork portion 10 adapted to fit over the hook 11 of the telephone instrument 1. The fork end of the lever arm 8 contains an enlarged portion 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Projecting from the standard 3 below the armature 9, is a shelf 13 upon which is mounted a magnet 14:. A wire 15 preferably leads from the magnet 1 1 down through the floor 16 upon which the desk 2 rests, then parallel with said floor for a short distance, and thence downwardly, latorally and upwardly through the latter to a lever switch 17 secured to the desk 2 at a point which renders it easily accessible to anyone using the desk. A companion wire 18 passes downwardly from said switch 17 through the floor 16, whence it extends approximately parallel with the lattor to a battery 19, a wire 20 completing the cir-- cuit from said battery to the magnet 1-4;. rrhile i. have shown a battery as the sou roe of the electric current for the operation of my d vice, any other suitable means from which current may be obtained, may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Connected in parallel with the wires 15 and 18, by means of wires 21 and 22 respectively, is a push button 23 extending a short distance above the floor 16, whereby it may be depressed by the foot for a purpose to be herein after described.

The numerals 2i and 25 designate the wires which lead from the central station to the telephone instrument 1, while the numerals 26 and 27 designate the usual wires which extend from the base of said instrument to the receiver 7.

The standard 8 is placed upon the desk 2 vice is provlded.

in such a position relative to the telephone instrument 1, that the hook end 11 of the latter will be engaged by the fork end 10 of said arm. The enlarged portion 12 of the latter is heavy enough to hold the hook 11 in its depressed position. However, by depressing the button 23 with the foot, the circuit through the battery 19 and magnet 14L will be closed, whereby the armature 9 on one end of the arm 8, will be drawn down wardly by said magnet to raise the opposite or fork end 10 of said arm. This will release the pressure on the hook 11, whereby the latter will be elevated to connect the telephone instrument 1 with the central station.

When the foot is taken oil of the button 23, the circuit through the magnet 1 will be again broken, whereupon the weight 12 on the arm 8 will cause the fork end 10 of the latter to depress the hook 11 to its normal position, or that position in which the strument 1 is not connected for conversation with the central station. It will now be seen that a person sitting at the desk 2, may operate the telephone 1 by his foot, without touching the receiver 7 which is held by the standard 3, thereby leaving the hands free for other purposes.

If, for instance, nographer, should desire to leave the desk to take dictation on the typewriter from the telephone, or to go to another room for the purpose of calling the desired party to the telephone, he may, by turning the lever switch 17 to connect the wires 15 and 18, keep the magnet circuit closed, with the result that the hook 11 will remain up until the conversation over the telephone instinment 1 is completed.

For the purpose of amplifying the sound produced in the receiver 7, the following de- Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral 28 designates a funnel-shaped horn which has the form of a convoluto 29 at its middle portion and terminates at its inner end in an outwardly flaring beveled metallic disk 30. The outer face of this disk around its central aperture, conforms to the beveled surface of the mouth of the receiver, whereby the two may have a close fit against each other. In order to make the contact between them as close as possible, the disk 30 is provided with an annular groove 31 which receives a circumferential rubber or other resilient band 32. The latter is held in close contact with the beveled surface of the mouth of the receiver 7, by the following device.

' Laterally adjustable in an aperture provided in a downward projection 33 of the arm 6, is a rod 3a which terminates at its forward end in a Y portion 35 that firmly supports the convolute part 29 of the horn 28. Now, when the disk 30 on the inner end of the horn 28 has been pressed tightly a person such as a steinto the mouth of the receiver 7, a set screw 36 which extends into the lower portion of the projection 33, against the rod 3 1, maybe tightened to hold the said horn and receiver in close engagement. Accordingly, any sounds produced in the receiver 7 will be amplified as they travel through the convolute portion 29 of said horn and its funnel shaped end. It is thus possible for anyone to be a distance from said receiver and still hear distinctly the sounds emitted therefrom, or talk into it. By unloosening the set screw 36, the amplifying device may be readily adjusted on, or entirely removed from the receiver-holding arm 6. 7

It will now be apparent that when a telephone equipped with my device rings, communication may be established with the calling party by pressing the foot on the button 23 or closing the switch 17 And so long as the foot is on the button 23, or the switch 17 remains closed, the answering party'may carry on a conversation at a distance from the telephone, with his hands free for writing or other purposes.

I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or alterations may be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a receiver-holder adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument, a member pivoted to said receiver-holder for depressing said hook, and electrical means for withdrawing said member from the hook, substantially as described.

2. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a receiver-holder adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument, a member piv- V oted to said receiver-holder for depressing said hook, and electrical means controlled by the foot for raising said member above the hook, substantially as described.

3. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a re ceiver-holder adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument, a member pivoted to said receiver-holder for depressing said hook, an armature formed on the end of said member opposite that which engages said hook, a magnet below said armature.

end, and electrical means controlled by the telephone user for energizing said magnet to draw the armature end of Said member toward it, whereby to raise the other end of the latter above said hook, substantially as described.

a. A telephonev apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a receiver-holder adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument, a lever arm pivbelow the armature end of said oted to said receiver-holder for depressing said hook, an a mature formed on the end of said lever arm opposite that which engages said hook, a magnet carried by said receiver-holder, below said armature end,

electrical means for energizing said magnet,

and a foot-controlled device for connecting said electrical means and magnet, to move the lever arm above said hook, substantially as described.

5. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a standard adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument for holding the receiver of the latter, a lever pivoted to said standard, having one end formed to engage and normally hold said hook in its depressed position, an armature formed on the other end of said lever, a magnet carried by said standard, below the armature end of said lever, a source of electric current, means establishing an electric circuit between said source and magnet, and a device controlled by the telephone user for closing said circuit, substantially as described.

6. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a standard adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument for holding the receiver of the latter, a lever pivoted to said standard, having one end formed to engage and normally hold said hook in its depressed position, an armature formed on the other end of said lever, a shelf on said standard lever, a magnet carried by said shelf, a source of electric current, means establishing an electric Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner circuit between said source and magnet, and a foot-controlled device for closing said circuit, whereby the magnet will attract the armature end of said lever to raise its other end above said hook, substantially as described.

7. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a standard adapted to be placed adjacent said telephone instrument for holding the receiver of the latter, a lever pivoted to said standard, a fork formed on one end of said lever to engage said hook, a weight on said lever end to cause the fork to h old said hook in its depressed position, an armature formed on the other end of said lever, a shelf on said standard below the armature end of said lever, a magnet carried by said shelf, a source of electric current, an electric wire circuit between said source and magnet, and a foot-controlled device for closing said circuit, whereby the magnet will attract the armature end of said lever to raise its other end above said hook, substantially as described.

8. A telephone apparatus comprising a telephone instrument, a hook therefor, a device for depressing said hook, and electrical means controlled by the telephone user for withdrawing said device from the hook, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of March, 1916.

' ELDRIDGE A. COX. Witnesses HOWARD S. SMITH, GEORGE H. SNYDER.

of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

